Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 674	$ 715
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $49 and $45, respectively		621	608
Roaming		21	20
Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively		46	44
Inventory, net		140	149
Prepaid expenses		80	81
Other current assets		25	55
Total current assets		1,607	1,672
Assets held for sale		16
Licenses		1,866	1,834
Goodwill		370	370
Investments in unconsolidated entities		420	363
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		7,609	7,669
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		5,151	5,020
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,458	2,649
Other assets and deferred charges		367	172
Total assets	[1]	7,104	7,060
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		11	11
Accounts payable
Affiliated		9	10
Trade		300	275
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		204	251
Accrued taxes		29	28
Accrued compensation		64	68
Other current liabilities		78	105
Total current liabilities		695	748
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net		831	821
Other deferred liabilities and credits		311	290
Long-term debt, net		1,621	1,629
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features		1	1
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares Authorized 190 shares (50 Series A Common and 140 Common Shares) Issued 88 shares (33 Series A Common and 55 Common Shares) Outstanding 85 shares (33 Series A Common and 52 Common Shares) and 84 shares (33 Series A Common and 51 Common Shares), respectively Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)		88	88
Additional paid-in capital		1,516	1,497
Treasury Shares, at cost, 3 and 4 Common Shares, respectively		(136)	(157)
Retained earnings		2,167	2,133
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,635	3,561
Noncontrolling interests		10	10
Total equity		3,645	3,571
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 7,104	$ 7,060

[1] The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include assets held by consolidated VIEs of $828 million and $658 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of U.S. Cellular. The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $18 million and $1 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular. See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.